Special

lovely surprise in the mail from MY

Last week this came to my mailbox. It was a lovely surprise from my good friend, MY. Max Lucado has always been one of my favourite authors. This was a simple reminder that just warmed my heart up. Knowing that each of us is uniquely made and valued by God and those who love and care for us.

Thank you, MY for the thoughtful gift! xx

'Someone who loves you just because you are you.'

It is a vital message we all need to hear. A message we need to share with others. Often.



'You are special, no matter what.'

yes, you. :)

Counting down!

The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.  ~Henry Boye

Can't wait to meet my best friend/travel buddy, Janice halfway round the world! 

This will be our 3rd travel together consecutively since our Tokyo trip. 

We will meet in Italy!

Also, I am very excited to finally get to meet 

a friend in person who is also responsible for 

urging me to turn the travel idea into reality! haha...

And also, finally finally... 

last week i have set all the point to point destinations for

 my impromptu Europe Encounter! 

It was so last minute...late nights of sitting in front of laptop bookings stuff. 

Phew! At least now i have an itinerary set. 

The rest is gonna be encounters and adventures! 

Counting down...6 days to go!

“Travel is like a giant blank canvas, and the painting on the canvas is only limited by one’s imagination.” — Ross Morley

Frankie issue 48

On Wednesday, i braved the rain to get my copy of the latest issue of Frankie from the local newsagency. Then the sun came out again so i quickly took a few snapshots with my macarons. 

The night before, i went into a baking spree, making batches of macarons. I was unstoppable! hehe.

Macarons, tea & Frankie turned out to be a perfect combination on a winter afternoon. Frankie, as always, is full of interesting & witty articles. 

Happy Friday lovelies!

Frankie issue 47

This issue is full of goodness. It came just at the right timing as my night shifts. I am slowly savoring it through during quiet moments at work. This issue also includes a cute gift wrap insert for Mother's Day. (used as background above)

A few things that got me excited include Helena's (pop pop portraits) lovely drawings, Mitchell & Dent, Perth designers in the wedding directory page & Grown's organic products which i am currently using their wonderful vanilla orange peel hand cream. 

New Year thoughts: Good Madness

It's that special time of the year 

when we all feel a little hyped about new beginnings 

and setting our new year resolutions.

Imagine all the new opportunities the new year holds.

I hope you are looking forward to the many new encounters the new year shall bring.

Just want to share this intriguing thoughts from Neil Gaiman. 

My friend, Sam told me about Neil Gaiman's inspiring work.

So i just want to quote him,

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." (taken from his recent blogpost)

i like the phrase 'good madness'.

He wrote the above about a decade ago.

You have to continue to read what he shared for this new year here. 

You just have to.

It struck me.

So this new year, I sincerely hope that you always have some inspirations and actually do what you are really passionate about. 

Let's hope that we all be a little braver, a little more hardworking and kinder than we were. =) 

paper garland i cut out on new year's eve. Say hi to my giraffe. lol.

Flickr Favourites: Christmas

by Sayaka Minemura 

by Mafalda Laezza

by The LEGO woman

by ILoveDoodle

So cute that i just have to share them with you.

May you feel loved and inspired today.

Frankie issue 45

yay! Frankie new issue is out! 

Bringing it to work to read today. 

DIY: Masking Tape (MT) fridge magnets

A vintage camera rubberstamp bought from Typo yesterday. $1.95.

I punched out some round pieces from thick papers with MT on them 

and adhered them to the cut-out magnets.

Adding colors to daily mundane =)

Before i die

 a giant chalkboard stenciled with the sentence “Before I die I want to _______”  became a space where we could learn the hopes and dreams of the people around us.

A brilliant thought-provoking idea by Candy Chang, New Orleans. Read about how it came about over here.

this participatory public art project is currently expanding to cities around the world, including Perth during Beaufort St Festival last Saturday. Thumbs up!

It was so interesting to read what others wrote on the chalkboard. Some were funny, some were inspiring.

This really got me thinking...what would you want to do before you die. You could choose to do a million things. But what really matters to you is what it really matters.

Linking in with the international movement, the Before I Die project will encourage festival-goers to add to the festival ‘bucket list’ of the must see and do things within our lives in a blackboard installation.

Go see other walls at the before i die website!

I ask myself before I die I want to...

Much Love Monday: Cloud Cookie Cutter & Ghostbird by Zee Avi

Today i am joining the fun of Much love Monday. Head over to Much Love for more lovely posts!

Lately i am obsessed with

my cloud cookie cutter,

& 

i love playing Zee Avi's new album 'Ghostbird' 

while driving on the freeway.

Favourite track is 31 Days.

11 random things on 11.11.11

Playing with iPhone screenshot to capture 11.11.11

Finished night shift at 07:30am. Slept for 3 hours. oh dear...

What did I buy today? - brown sugar. Going to bake this weekend!

Emo-ing to James Morrison's new song 'I won't let you go' on youtube.

Watch this video - 'A year in New York'

Cute illustration over here.

Nice print design on totebags via pinterest.

Smart eco-friendly idea - water bottle cookie package over here.

A recent flickr favourite - Today felt like it's new year to me. lol!

meeting a new friend tomorrow at the Beaufort Street Festival. yay!

Was at the 'Turning on the Christmas Lights' family event in city tonight. The city was illuminated. 

Can't believe it's coming to the end of 2011 soon!! eeep!

Check out more pictures over at Perth 2011 photo set.

Much Love Monday: iPhone cases & kikki.K

for my iPhone. Bought these at Bugis, Singapore for just SD$15 each.

2 of them were given to me as gifts, and i bought the one with apples for myself 

just because it's cute. GST excluded too, at Changi airport. 

Spotted this book in kikki.K. A collection of inspirational quotes inside. Adore it.

inspiration is all around you

fold out poster from Inspire book, by kikk.K

sometimes all we need is a little dose of inspiration to keep us going. =)

Kikki K new products 2012

I went into kikki K store recently and saw their new line of 2012 diaries and calendars featuring whimsical watercolour doodles.  See more of their new releases and Father's Day's gift ideas over here.

Party Pictures

So my dear friend, Janice has been sending me photos of her birthday party via mms today. And i just wanted to share the pictures here! They looked so good! =)

the wooden spoons for the Beeramisu they made!

the paper bunting & the pom poms *she made some gorgeous ones too

the drinks looked so GOOD with the paper straws!

and i sent her this... lol.

To the Awesome Duo, J & J

i have a pom pom hanging above my bed. =P